Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese - metropolitan philiphttp://antiochian.org/taxonomy/term/1274/0
en-USOn the First Anniversary of the Falling Asleep of Metropolitan Philiphttp://antiochian.org/first-anniversary-falling-asleep-metropolitan-philip
<!--paging_filter--><p><em>by Fr. Joseph Antypas</em></p>
<p>March 19 marks the first anniversary of the falling asleep of the thrice-blessed and our Father in Christ of the late Metropolitan Philip. There is not a single day that passes without remembering the life and the contributions of this giant of a man, who has endeared himself to the cause of spreading Antiochian Orthodoxy in North America, and who has left a tremendous impact on the institutions that belong to the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. People continue to remember and sometimes are visited in dreams, recalling Metropolitan Philip and his dynamic ministry in the life of American Orthodoxy in general and Antiochian Orthodoxy in particular.</p>
<p>On the occasion of his anniversary I want to focus on three areas that characterized this 'world historical individual', to use the expression of the German philosopher George Hegel.</p>
<p>First, Metropolitan Philip believed in the value of the human person. He provided to the ministries of the Antiochian Archdiocese an army of men and women. Some went to seminaries so they became priests and deacons, and some were promoted into the office of the bishop. Others took leading positions in the various institutions and church organizations. He established a great rapport with all those who worked with him, promoting the goals and aspirations of the Holy Church.</p>
<p>Secondly, Metropolitan Philip was visionary in the sense of building and establishing institutions and programs such as the Antiochian House of Studies, the Antiochian Village, the Antiochian Women, the Order of St. Ignatius and many other institutions and programs that invited thousands of people to benefit from such ministries. Today, the Antiochian Archdiocese is helping young people from all Orthodox jurisdictions in North America to come and learn in a friendly atmosphere the ethos of the Orthodox Church and experience its life in a healthy manner that will benefit the Church in the 21st Century.</p>
<p>Thirdly, Metropolitan Philip did not forget his roots and his mother church and the 'old country.' He encouraged young seminarians and clergymen to go to Balamand School of Theology in Lebanon. He invited choirs to visit his Archdiocese and make special tours in various parishes. He supported the school of theology and the University of Balamand as well. He created departments that helped coordinate mutual work towards the orphans, needy people and food for hungry people.</p>
<p>On the first anniversary of this great man, inspiring hierarch and visionary architect of our church in North America, we pray that the Lord God will establish his soul where the just repose. Remember, O Lord, Thy servant, the most blessed Metropolitan Philip, among the saints. Memory be eternal!</p>
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articlefr joseph antypasmetropolitan philipTue, 10 Mar 2015 17:23:12 +0000afrishman51426 at http://antiochian.orgBishop Antoun Reflects on His Life in the Archdiocese, Metropolitan Philip, and Metropolitan Josephhttp://antiochian.org/bishop-antoun-reflects-his-life-archdiocese-metropolitan-philip-and-metropolitan-joseph
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<!--paging_filter--><p><em><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/40186"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/bishop_antoun_av_library.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="Bishop Antoun at the Antiochian Village Library" title="Bishop Antoun at the Antiochian Village Library" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="237" /></a><span class="caption" style="width: 348px;"><strong>Bishop Antoun at the Antiochian Village Library</strong></span></span></em>This reflection from the <a href="/september-2014-edition-word-now-available">September, 2014 edition of The Word magazine</a>&nbsp;begins with a brief introductory explanation by the Editor, Bishop John Abdalah.</p>
<p><em>We were at the Antiochian Village in July, 2014, for the Clergy Symposium, sitting in front of the portrait of Patriarch Alexander (Tahan), the Patriarch who ordained Bishop Antoun to the diaconate in 1951. Bishop Antoun began to reminisce about the late Patriarch and his ordination. Metropolitan Philip served this Patriarch as his Secretary and Deacon. Sayidna Philip found this portrait at St. John of Damascus Parish during a pastoral visit. "How important it is for us to remember those godly men who went before us, forming our spiritual lives through their witness and teachings," remarked our senior Bishop Antoun.</em></p>
<p><em>Sayidna Antoun has served the Archdiocese of North America for 60 years. He is part of the history of our Church, witnessing its growth and changes as a priest and bishop, as a pastor and as an administrator, as an immigrant and as an American. As we experience our transition from the leadership of Sayidna Philip to that of Sayidna Joseph, we are blessed to hear Bishop Antoun's reflections, visions and hopes.</em></p>
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<p>I served as a teacher in the Orthodox School in Damascus, and later as the Principal of St. John of Damascus School in Syria. I then moved to San Paolo, Brazil, and served the Church there as a deacon before coming to the United States, where I studied at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Almost right away I was reunited by phone with my longtime friend, Metropolitan Philip, who was then a priest in Cleveland, Ohio. Because I missed my friend Fr. Philip, I went to visit him there. I had asked how long a trip Cleveland would be from New York. He told me it would be a few hours: just tell the Greyhound Bus [people] you want Cleveland and they will bring you here. The trip took overnight! I found my friend Philip waiting for me in the Church.</p>
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<p>It was Metropolitan Anthony Bashir who invited me to serve in North America. With the permission of my bishop in Brazil, Metropolitan Ignatius (Ferzly), I made North America my home. I studied at St. Vladimir's Seminary, and soon Metropolitan Anthony ordained me in Boston during a Parish Life Conference hosted by St. George Church on St. George Street. He asked me to serve temporarily at St. George Church in Philadelphia, where I served seven years, and during which time we hosted two Parish Life conferences.</p>
<p>In 1967 Metropolitan Philip appointed me to serve St. George in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. During that time Metropolitan Philip suffered his first heart attack. He needed some help, so he asked me to move from Toronto to help him in Brooklyn, New York. For two years we searched for a new headquarters and we found a place, the present headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey. During these eight years at the headquarters I managed the bookstore, cut the grass, cooked meals and carried suitcases. I also taught our Antiochian students at St. Vladimir's. Among my students are Bishops Basil, John and Thomas, as well as many of our clergy.</p>
<p>In 1975 I witnessed the reunification of the Toledo and New York Archdioceses. This was a great day in the history of the Antiochian Church in America. In 1977, after the visit of Patriarch Elias IV, I asked to go back to parish life and went to St. George, Allentown, where I served one year. Then Fr. Gregory Abboud died, so I was appointed the Dean of the St. Nicholas Cathedral to replace him. From that time Metropolitan Philip asked me to serve as an Auxiliary Bishop. After some struggle within the Synod of Antioch, I was elected to serve as Auxiliary Bishop.</p>
<p>During my thirty years with Metropolitan Philip he sent me over all of the Archdiocese, visiting parishes and establishing missions. In 1987, after long discussions, Metropolitan Philip accepted the Evangelical Orthodox Church into the Antiochian Archdiocese. Traveling to all of these parishes and preparing them to serve within the traditions of the Antiochian Church was a highlight of my ministry. I witnessed the establishment of the Antiochian Women in Atlanta, Georgia. These women are the backbone of the Archdiocese. I was also there for the creation of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Teen SOYO, and the rebirth of the Fellowship. Metropolitan Philip and I worked so hard establishing, nurturing and supporting these organizations. We also worked hard supporting the clergy and encouraging the parishes. In the 1970s we found a camp in Pennsylvania. We fought hard to establish the Antiochian Village Camp, and then the Center, the Library and the Chapel at the Antiochian Village.</p>
<p>Since my consecration as a bishop, I traveled throughout the Archdiocese. All of my work brought me happiness. The love of my life is the Archdiocese, her people, and especially the clergy. With my partner, Metropolitan Philip, we established the Antiochian House of Studies. Here at the symposium we see around us the many deacons and priests and bishops prepared to work with us through the programs of the House of Studies.</p>
<p>My life as Deacon, Priest and Bishop of this Archdiocese was wonderful. Now at an age of reflection, I hope that this Archdiocese, under the leadership of our new Metropolitan Joseph, will remain blessed. He has a big job for the future of Antioch in this land. He has my support and my prayers.</p>
<p>I wish to express my gratitude to my life-long friend, the late Metropolitan Philip. I also thank the Archdiocese Board of Trustees, The Antiochian Women, The Order of St. Ignatius, and the youth, asking God to continue to bless them and keep them united in faith. I pray that we continue in unity in the Archdiocese under the leadership of the new Metropolitan. I love and admire this man.</p>
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antiochian archdiocesearticlebishop antounmetropolitan philipTue, 26 Aug 2014 23:07:00 +0000afrishman40181 at http://antiochian.orgChrist is Risen! http://antiochian.org/christ-risen
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<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/photo_5.img_assist_custom-113x150.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-img_assist_custom-113x150 image-img_assist_custom" width="113" height="150" /></span>"Christ is Risen! Our dear Metropolitan Philip has reposed." With these words Bishop Nicholas began his telephone greetings to each of the bishops of our God-protected Archdiocese on Wednesday night, March 19, 2014, after hearing of the falling asleep of our Metropolitan. Metropolitan Philip &nbsp;himself regularly shared that, in this greeting, "Christ Is Risen," is our hope and our consolation. We are a people of hope, we are the people of the Resurrection; in Christ we are God's own and God has made us free.&nbsp;Metropolitan Philip, expressing his thoughts on this freedom, writes:&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote><p>Man was not created to be a slave, neither to society nor to history, neither to science nor to technology, neither to communism nor to capitalism. Even though nature has limitations, these limitations can be overcome by the sacramental life of the Church. Each and every one of us can become Christlike through prayer, contemplation and action.</p>
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<p>Metropolitan Philip was a true teacher of Antioch, stressing incarnational theology, which Sayidna described as theology in action. He called us to action, and asked us not to theologize but to serve the poor, clothe the naked and feed the hungry. He organized the Archdiocese into ministries and gave the people he served opportunities to serve on the parochial, regional and archdiocesan levels. His mission was to America and to the world.</p>
<p>Metropolitan Philip was the champion of Orthodox cooperation and unity in America; a unity that needs to be local and independent. Such a unity expresses the real missionary zeal of Orthodoxy, not a transplant of ethnic customs in a new world. He worked hard and long with many local leaders, as well as the leaders of the Mother Churches, and has contributed much to this work.</p>
<p>Metropolitan Philip was a world-recognized diplomat for Orthodoxy and Truth. He understood the complexities of both the Churches and the nations. He understood history and felt deeply the pain and suffering of oppressed people. He contributed much toward world peace and was a genuine leader and statesman. He used his position to bring hope and healing whenever he could.</p>
<p>We are not without hope. Metropolitan Philip has prepared the Church for this transition, understanding well our needs, our strengths, our challenges and our dreams. He has led this Archdiocese for almost half a century and has led with distinction. His dreams have become our dreams, his hopes ours as well. He will continue to lead us through his prayers and by the love and gifts that he has given us.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Rest in Peace, dear Father,</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Christ is Risen Indeed!</em></p>
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bishop johnmetropolitan philipreposeMon, 05 May 2014 18:33:08 +0000vnieuwsma36000 at http://antiochian.orgHis Eminence Metropolitan Philip's Address to the Archdiocese Assemblyhttp://antiochian.org/his-eminence-metropolitan-philips-address-archdiocese-assembly
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<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/31040"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/philiphouston3.teaser-large_feature.png" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="242" height="350" /></a></span><em>On Friday, July 26, Metropolitan Philip delivered his message to the 51st Antiochian Archdiocese Convention in Houston, TX. Following is the written text of his address:</em></p>
<p>Your Eminences, Your Graces, Reverend Clergy, Esteemed Members of the Board of Trustees, Generous Members of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Energetic Members of the Antiochian Women of North America, Members of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, Beloved members of SOYO, and members of our Parish Councils throughout North America and all faithful of our God protected Archdiocese.</p>
<p>Before I address the theme of our convention, first, I would like to convey to you some very good news about our Archdiocese. We have completed the purchase of property and buildings in York County, Pennsylvania for the establishment of the Convent of St. Thekla Monastic Community at a price of $885,845. The property is located in Glenville, Pennsylvania and consists of 51 acres of land which includes a four bedroom “move in ready” house, a two story barn, and a three car garage with an attached workshop.&nbsp; The property also has a pond, and includes 30 acres of farmland and 7 acres of woodland. Our original plan was to build this convent at the Antiochian Village. However, it became clear that the cost of building at the Antiochian Village would have been $4,091,907.&nbsp; This is a total saving of $3,206,062. &nbsp;The purchase was funded by money saved in the Archdiocese from an endowment fund by the late Archimandrite John Matthieson, money which has been raised by the Antiochian Women, and generous donations from individual members of the Archdiocese Board of Trustees.</p>
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<p>The property is approximately a 40 minute drive from our parish of St. John Chrysostom in York, Pennsylvania. It is a one hour drive from both Harrisburg, and Baltimore/Washington International airports.&nbsp; This central location allows the property to be reached by a three and a half hour drive from the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area, as well as, a three and a half hour drive from the Antiochian Village.</p>
<p>This is a most exciting development, and we ask for prayers that the Lord will greatly bless these efforts and the nuns who will eventually form this monastic community.</p>
<p>“And He shall come again with Glory to judge the living and the dead” (our Nicene Creed)</p>
<p>The theme of our convention is taken from Matthew 25:31. It’s a lesson from the Scripture which we read before Great Lent on Meatfare Sunday. If it’s up to me, I would call that lesson, “The Last Judgment” and would also call the Cheesefare Sunday, “Forgiveness Sunday.” In our Nicene Creed, that we repeat at every Liturgy and other liturgical services, we read, “and He shall come again with Glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.” Thus my beloved, history is not endless and our life on this earth is not eternal. In our funeral service, St. John of Damascus said, “What earthly sweetness remains unmixed with grief? What glory stands immutable on earth? All things are but feeble shadows, all things are most deluding dreams; yet one moment only, and death shall supplant them all.”</p>
<p>From our Orthodox Christian perspective, history will end at the second coming of Christ. Thus, we are living now between His first coming and second coming.</p>
<p>There are many concepts of history, for example, Hinduism teaches that the world will never end and we continue coming and going until we reach the “Nirvana” then we are purified and become united with the absolute spirit.&nbsp; We in the Orthodox Church do not believe in this cyclical theory of history. In other words, we do not believe in reincarnation. Around the end of the 19<sup>th</sup> century and the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, this belief of reincarnation was embraced by poets such as Emerson, Kahlil Gibran, and many others. Other concepts of history also emerged during the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> centuries. There is the Marxist theory which is based on social class struggle. The end of history to the Marxists will come when we reach a classless society. After the Second World War we encountered a new theory of history developed by the French Atheist philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre, who believed and taught that history is meaningless and life is absurd. Sartre was horrified by the atrocities of the Second World War and developed the concept that tomorrow is uncertain and the past is meaningless, therefore, drink and be merry because you exist today in this moment; and it does not matter therefore, whether you are a saint or a devil, this is the school of Sartre’s Existentialism. Thus history is absurd.</p>
<p>My main concern in this message is our Orthodox concept of History.&nbsp; To us Orthodox Christians, History is very meaningful; it starts with the creation, fall, and expulsion from Paradise. After that there was a period of preparation for the coming of the Messiah known as the Old Testament. The Incarnation, the preaching of the Gospel, the Crucifixion, the empty tomb, and the Ascension into Heaven marks the end of the first coming of our Lord. In Galatians 4:4-7, St. Paul said, “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman born under the law.” In the Gospel of St. John, 1:14 we read “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.”</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen,</p>
<p>We are now anticipating the second coming of Christ as our Creed states. Thus, from our Orthodox perspective, the second coming of our Lord will mark the end of history. In Matthew 25:31-41, we read:</p>
<p>“When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at His left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘come O blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, and I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, and I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, and so forth; and the King will answer them, “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me.&nbsp; Then He will say to those at His left hand, depart from Me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; and so on; and they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”</p>
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<p>Ladies and Gentlemen,</p>
<p>as we have read in the Scripture, history is not eternal as our Lord said. After our Lord preached the Good News to us, Luke states in 25:50, “Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them.&nbsp; While he blessed them, He was parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with a great joy.”</p>
<p>It is important to know that Christ did not leave this world to the wolves, but he continues to act in history through the Sacramental life of the Church. Thus, Christian history is not absurd as Jean Paul Sartre stated or an endless cycle.</p>
<p>George M. Arsden, a Church historian, in his article entitled, “God’s Actions in History,” said, “We know first of all that God is our Creator and that He acts in History. He is not merely a first principal as a transcendent abstraction, but a personal God who has decisively created history and He is the master of it. We know of God’s actions particularly in the history of redemption recorded in the scripture and centering in Christ. We know also that God will continue His redemptive work through the workings of the Holy Spirit in the sacramental life of the Church. The most meaningful expression for men is knowledge and knowing God. We know also that human history will end in judgment.”</p>
<p>Brothers and sisters in Christ,</p>
<p>We are living now between the first coming and second coming of Christ.&nbsp; During His first coming He came as a poor child born in a cave because there was no room for Him in the inn.&nbsp; But His second coming will be different.&nbsp; “When Christ comes again with glory to judge the living and the dead” the question is, but when will the second coming happen?&nbsp; No one knows except God Himself.&nbsp; Thus, according to which standards will we be judged?&nbsp; According to the Scripture, we will be judged according to our faith in Him and our deeds.&nbsp; In his Epistle, St. James said, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:14-17)&nbsp; Christ gave the answer not in theological complex terms, or philosophical speculation, but rather in simple terms; exactly the way he preached to us:</p>
<p>I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, and so forth, and they answered, “When did we see You hungry? And when did we see You thirsty, naked, in prison, a stranger, and so forth?” He will say to them, “Whatever you have done to the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.”&nbsp; Please note, here the complete identification of our Lord with the hungry, thirsty, naked, just to mention a few.</p>
<p>In response to this, years ago I established, “Food for Hungry People Program, I want to thank all who have contributed and will continue to contribute to this very worthy annual Lenten drive.&nbsp; Many, many thanks are due here to Miss Robin Nicholas, for her efforts in administering this program since its inception.</p>
<p>St. &nbsp;John Chrysostom said in his commentary on the letter to the Romans, “It is not enough to help the poor, we must help them with generosity and without grumbling. And it is not enough to help them without grumbling, we must help them gladly and happily. When the poor are helped there ought to be these two conditions, generosity and joy.”</p>
<p>According to the electronic media and the United Nations statistics, I would like to share with you the following facts:</p>
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<li>In the Asian, African, and Latin American Countries, well over 500 Million people are living in what the World Bank has called “absolute poverty.”</li>
<li>Every year, 15 Million children die of hunger.</li>
<li>For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for five years.</li>
<li>Throughout the 1990s more than 100 million children died from illness and starvation.&nbsp; Those 100 million deaths could have been prevented for the price of 10 stealth bombs, or what the world spends on its military in two days.</li>
<li>One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished including 160 million children under the age of 5.</li>
<li>The Indian subcontinent has nearly half the world’s hungry people. Africa and the rest of Asia together have approximately 40 percent, and the remaining hungry people are found in Latin America and other parts of the world.</li>
<li>Nearly one in four people, 1.3 billion, a majority of humanity, lives on less than $1 per day, while the world’s 358 billionaires have assets exceeding the combined annual incomes of countries with 45 percent of the world’s people.</li>
<li>One out of every 8 children under the age of 12 in the United States goes to bed hungry every night.</li>
<li>The assets of the world’s three richest men are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries on the planet.</li>
<li>And last, every 3 point six seconds, someone dies of hunger.</li>
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<p>St. John Chrysostom, one of our great Church fathers, said, “Feeding the hungry is a greater work than raising the dead.”</p>
<p>I spoke to you before about the cyclical concept of history in which we do not believe. But we do believe in the linear concept of history. Now to say that there is meaningful, general progression does not necessarily mean that there is steady progress (in the sense of improvement). Men’s own sinful actions often work against the purpose of God. We cannot say with any assurance that the world is generally getting better.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Finally, I think without our collective efforts, this Archdiocese cannot achieve its goals. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our beloved Hierarchs, namely, His Eminence, Archbishop JOSEPH; His Grace, Bishop ANTOUN; His Grace, Bishop BASIL; His Grace, Bishop THOMAS; His Grace, Bishop JOHN; His Grace, Bishop ANTHONY; His Grace, Bishop NICHOLAS; and His Grace, Bishop ALEXANDER; the Vice Chairman of the Archdiocese, Mr. Fawaz El Khoury; the Treasurer of the Archdiocese, Mr. Robert Laham; the Assistant Treasurer, Mr. George Nassor; our Chancellor, Archdeacon Emile Sayegh.&nbsp; I would like to thank the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Dr. John Dalack; and the Secretary of the Archdiocese, Father Michael Ellias, and all esteemed members of the Board of Trustees, for their generosity and loyalty to this Archdiocese. I also would like to thank our faithful clergy of this Archdiocese for their firm commitment to the eternal principles of our Church, especially those who serve small parishes and missions. I also would like to thank Mrs. Mary Winstanley O’Connor, the Chair of The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, who has worked and traveled tirelessly to increase the membership of the Order of St. Ignatius, and all members of The Order for remaining faithful to The Order and its goals. Since 1973 the Antiochian Women have been helping projects within and without this Archdiocese, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Violet Robbat for her outstanding leadership to the Antiochian Women. I would like also to thank the Chairs of all our Archdiocesan Organizations, Departments, and Commissions for their hard work.</p>
<p>Last but not least, I would like to thank the staff of the Archdiocese, namely, my Hierarchical Assistant, The Very Reverend Father George Kevorkian, for his articulation and his work with Statistics and Credentials; The Reverend Archdeacon Hans ElHayek, who is now semi-retired; I would like to thank our Assistant Controller, Mr. Sameh Khouzam, his assistant, Mr. Michael Shaggal, and Mr. Peter Dacales, who although retired, continues to help at the office every week.&nbsp; I would like also to thank my Secretary and Administrator of The Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Mrs. Joanne Hakim, our Registrar, Mrs. Sandra Abdel Mesih, office assistant, Mrs. Marlene Ayoub, Seminarian, Mr. Rassem El Massih, who works at the Archdiocese while completing his studies and assists me when I travel, and our Chef, Mrs. Almaza Farhat, who keeps all of us at the headquarters very well fed.</p>
<p>&nbsp;In conclusion, I would like to remind you of something profound that I have read in Scripture, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13) when the bridegroom will come.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
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archdiocese conventionhistorymetropolitan philipThu, 01 Aug 2013 16:50:36 +0000dcramer31043 at http://antiochian.orgArab Spring or Tornado?http://antiochian.org/arab-spring-or-tornado
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<!--paging_filter--><p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/30882"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/arab_spring_or_tornado_01.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="206" /></a></span><em>Editorial by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, from the <a href="http://www.antiochian.org/june-2013-edition-word-now-available">June 2013 issue of </a></em><a href="http://www.antiochian.org/june-2013-edition-word-now-available">The Word</a><em>:</em></p>
<p>Since the so-called Arab Spring began in Libya in 2011, we have seen the devastation and destruction of that Arab country by Libyan and NATO forces. This Arab Spring has since spread to Tunisia and Egypt, the most populated Arab country. This fire has burned relentlessly in Gaza and all of Palestine since 1948. It is spreading into Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq and has caused the most devastation in Syria, where many of us have ancestral roots. Unfortunately, the American and European news outlets are not reporting such stories to the world, neither through the written word nor graphic photographs like the ones you see in this sad issue of <em>The WORD</em> magazine. <em>The WORD</em> has been able to obtain these pictures and information from reliable sources. Syria has been most victimized and experienced the most devastation by this seemingly endless war. <em>The WORD</em> believes that the only country that can bring peace to this most explosive region of the world is the United States of America, because America has leverage over Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Europe.</p>
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<p>For more than two years, a savage war has been raging in Syria. It has consumed more than 100,000 Syrians and left thousands of refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Canada, and Australia, to name a few. Billions of dollars have been lost in the properties of cities like Damascus and its suburbs, Dara'a, al-Kousyr, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Deir al-Zoor and others in Northern Syria. Our distinguished President, Barack Obama, and our Secretary of State, John Kerry, have been calling the world to arm the rebels (the Free Syrian Army) to continue the fight and topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. We do believe that there must be a peaceful solution to this war in Syria; if it continues, however, it may burn the whole Middle East, including our American interests in the region. Therefore, one might ask what the solution is. Surely it is not more arms for Syrians to kill each other. What Syria needs is a peace conference between the Syrian regime and the opposition, supervised by the United Nations.</p>
<p>Syria does not need more arms. Syria needs more financial aid, more relief to millions of Syrians who have lost everything and more relief to thousands of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and other countries. The war in Syria is also shaking the political situation in Lebanon. This is precisely why the Lebanese have not been able to form a government or agree on a new parliamentary law. No, Mr. President, and no, Mr. Secretary of State, arming Syrians against Syrians will not bring peace to Syria; instead, more war and bloodshed. What Syria needs most of all is peace, "for blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).</p>
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<p>Lastly, it pains us beyond measure that two of our venerable Orthodox archbishops have been kidnapped while on a humanitarian mission in the suburbs of Allepo and have yet to be found. We ask all peace-loving people to pray for their release from captivity, because in our liturgy we always pray for captives and for their salvation.</p>
<p>May Christ, who is our Peace, grant our leaders wisdom and understanding, and to all our victims and martyrs of this so-called Arab-Spring, rest and eternal life.</p>
<p><strong><em>His Eminence Metropolitan Philip</em></strong></p>
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articlemetropolitan philipmiddle eastsyriaWed, 26 Jun 2013 18:54:18 +0000afrishman30887 at http://antiochian.orgPatriarch Ignatius IV: An Incarnational Theologianhttp://antiochian.org/content/patriarch-ignatius-iv-incarnational-theologian
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<!--paging_filter--><p><em><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/29603"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/patriarch_ignatius_portrait_5.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="“ I learn my theology from looking at the faces of people.”" title="“ I learn my theology from looking at the faces of people.”" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="261" height="350" /></a><span class="caption" style="width: 259px;"><strong>“ I learn my theology from looking at the faces of people.”</strong></span></span>Delivered at the official memorial for the Patriarch held at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY on December 16, 2012.</em></p>
<p>Patriarch Ignatius was born in Mouharde, Syria, a village in the Middle East similar to Bethlehem and Nazareth. This is why, when talking about Jesus, he often said, “Jesus was one of us. He talked our language (Aramaic-Syriac); He ate our food, and practiced our traditions.”</p>
<p>Ignatius (Hazim), Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, was born in 1920 and grew up in a pious Orthodox family. At an early age, he traveled to Beirut and lived with the late Metropolitan Elia (Saleeby) at the Archbishopric of Beirut. After he finished his secondary education at the Three Hierarchs Secondary School, he enrolled at the American University of Beirut, from which he earned a degree in Philosophy. In 1942 he and Metropolitan George (Khodr) and Albert Laham established the Orthodox Youth Movement, which is now a powerful spiritual force in the Patriarchate of Antioch. From 1949 to 1953 he studied at the Saint Sergios Theological Institute in Paris. His professors included the late Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemman and Protopresbyter John Myendorff. He was one of the founders of the <em>Syndesmos</em>, the worldwide brotherhood of Orthodox Youth. While in Beirut he served as the Principal of the Annunciation Orthodox School. In 1961, he was ordained Bishop of Palmyra (Tidmor) and Patriarchal Vicar, and in the following year, he was sent to the Monastery of Balamand as Superior, and as Dean of the Theological Seminary of St. John of Damascus. I was fortunate to be present as part of a delegation from North America at the dedication of the School of Theology, founded and financed by the Archdiocese of New York and All North America, in 1970. His Beatitude published a series of theological books and many articles. He earned honorary doctorates from the Sorbonne, and from the St. Petersburg and Minsk Theological Academies. In 1966 he was elected by the Holy Synod of Antioch as Metropolitan of Latakia (Laodicea). On July 2, 1979, he was elected by the Holy Synod as Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and enthroned on July 8 of the same year. Of all the Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch he was the only one to establish an Orthodox University. This he did in 1988, during a most difficult time in the history of Lebanon, in order to serve Lebanon, the Arab East, and Arab Orthodox immigrants all over the world.</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><a href="/node/28913"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/DSC00284.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="233" /></a></span>He had no worldly desires and lived like a monk – not in isolation, but in society to help others and minister to them. He believed that we are the brothers of Christ, and often said, “You are an Orthodox indeed if you love the other and see yourself through them.” As a citizen he never differentiated between Christians and Muslims. He was rooted in his Eastern Christianity, which began with Jesus and His disciples, and spread to Antioch and from Antioch to the whole world. In the Book of Acts, we read, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The West, which received its Christianity from us, needs to be re-joined to its Eastern roots, because Jesus taught in Jerusalem, and was buried in Jerusalem and rose from the dead there, and from Jerusalem His glorious Resurrection was proclaimed to the whole world.</p>
<p>Patriarch Ignatius did not own a house, or land, or a vineyard of grapes, nor an orchard of olives; he never carried money in his pocket and never had checking or savings accounts in any bank. He never cared for himself or his family. Everything he received he gave to the Church, to its institutions and schools, and to the University of Balamand, which was the fruit of his labor and his joy.</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/29605"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/patriarch_ignatius_greeting.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="212" /></a></span>Patriarch Ignatius IV left at Balamand footprints which the storms of time cannot erase. We hope and pray that the All-Holy Spirit will inspire the fathers of the Holy Synod of Antioch to elect a worthy successor of this man, a successor who will follow not only in the footsteps of Ignatius, but leave his own footprints on the ancient rocks of Balamand.</p>
<p>Our Lord said in John 5:17, “My Father is working still, and I am working.” His Beatitude, Patriarch Ignatius IV, was a working man. He often said, “I learn my theology from looking at the faces of people.” He was not an ivory-tower theologian, but a man who wiped away the tears of the afflicted and instilled hope in the hopeless. May his soul rest in peace and may his memory be eternal.</p>
<p><em>His Eminence Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)</em></p>
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articlemetropolitan philippatriarch ignatius ivWed, 09 Jan 2013 19:42:59 +0000afrishman29606 at http://antiochian.orgThe Parish, the Priest and the Parish Councilhttp://antiochian.org/content/parish-priest-and-parish-council
<!--paging_filter--><p><strong>Primate’s Message Delivered at Biennial Parish Council Symposium</strong></p>
<p><em>By Metropolitan Philip</em></p>
<p><em>From The Word, December 1994&nbsp;</em></p>
<p>Esteemed members of Parish Councils:</p>
<p>On behalf of the entire Archdiocese, I would like first and foremost, to welcome you to the Antiochian Village and especially to the Heritage and Learning Center. While here, I am sure that you will have the opportunity to see our camping facilities where your children spend some of their summer. You will also see our library which now houses more than twenty-five thousand volumes. Moreover, you will see our museum and School of Iconography, our beautiful dining room and the rest of our fine facilities. Surely, without your cooperation, the Heritage and Learning Center would never have existed. I am most thankful to you.</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen:</p>
<p>I want to assure you that this Parish Council Symposium will not be a monologue. Thus, after every lecture, you will have ample time to engage the various speakers in a question and answer session. We want to dialogue with you and exchange thoughts with you and frankly speaking, we want to learn from you. If you have problems in your parishes, spiritually or financially, let us discuss them. We want to know if you have a healthy parish and if not, why? Are your parish organizations functioning properly, i.e., do you have a healthy Sunday School, a strong youth group and an inspiring choir? And what about the Antiochian Women, the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine and Teen SOYO? Are they functioning properly? Is your priest responsive to the needs of your parish? Is the Archdiocese responsive to your needs? Are we serving you as you deserve? We realize that without you, the Archdiocese does not exist and without the Archdiocese, you do not exist. Therefore, the Archdiocese and the parishes compliment each other. If you are strong, the Archdiocese is strong, but if you are weak, the Archdiocese is weak.</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen:</p>
<p>This is the second time in the history of our Archdiocese that leaders and parish council members meet in a symposium to discuss in depth the problems which our Archdiocese is facing while on the threshold of the Twenty-first century. Henceforth, a biennial symposium of this kind will be held for our parish leaders in this center.</p>
<p>The topic which I will discuss with you is the following: “All Together, We Perform a Sacred Task. There is no room for Them and Us. For in Christ we all are ‘Us’.”</p>
<p>This topic is rooted in my message to the Archdiocese Convention which was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1968. In that message, I said: “For many years, we have been administering our local parishes under a false dichotomy; indeed under a dangerous and unorthodox dualism. We have been preaching two kinds of theology: One for the church upstairs and one for the hall downstairs. We do not believe in this “upstairs downstairs” theology. Nor do we believe in the existence of two classes in the parish, opposing each other, “them and us,” clergy versus laity. This kind of dichotomy has caused many serious parochical problems. Unfortunately, some of our clergy do not think that we need parish councils to help us administer the affairs of our parishes. Moreover, they believe that parish councils are nothing but an American innovation which we should abolish. I completely disagree with this kind of unrealistic and unorthodox thinking. On the other hand, we have parish councils who believe that priests are hired and fired at the whims of parish councils. Furthermore, they believe that the priest takes care of the spiritual matters and they take care of the financial matters. Thus, when the priest is giving his sermon upstairs, the council members are counting the Sunday collections downstairs. I completely disagree with this thinking and this unorthodox practice.</p>
<p>In the Church, there are no spiritual and financial matters opposing each other. As a matter of fact, everything in the Church points to the Eternal, to the Almighty God who is the source of “every good and perfect gift”. In other words, if the parish lacks the necessary funds to pay its bills, i.e., light, heat, air-conditioning, help the poor, help plant parishes, pay the priest’s stipend, etc., it is the sacred duty of the pastor to devote some of his sermons to the financial conditions of the parish and to work closely with the parish council in order to remedy this situation. On the other hand, if the parish has a lousy choir which does not inspire anyone or add any beauty to the Divine Liturgy, and if the parish does not have a well attended and well organized Sunday School, and if the parish does not have a youth group, etc., it is the sacred duty of the parish council to discuss such matters with the priest and make sure that he is cognizant of the spiritual conditions of the parish. Therefore, we cannot separate between spiritual and financial matters in the life of the parish and we cannot have classes opposing each other. Thus, there is no room for ‘them and us’ for in Christ, we are all ‘us’.”</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen:</p>
<p>Since my consecration to the Holy Episcopate in 1966, I have been preaching this simple, but very Orthodox theology. “The Church is not the bishop alone, or the priest alone, or the laity alone. The Church is the bishop, the priests and the laity working together.” For “we are laborers together with God.” As St. Paul put it (I Cor. 3:9).</p>
<p>At every Divine Liturgy, when we recite the Creed, we say, “And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” This means that there is one Church which cannot be divided by class, tribal, national or political conflicts. As the Church is one, the faithful must be one and must reflect this oneness in a true communion with God and with each other. In other words, the Church must be communion.</p>
<p>In his first epistle, St. Peter said: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,” (I Peter 2:9). St. Peter was not addressing one class of Christians only when he said, “You are a chosen race and a royal priesthood.” On the contrary, he was speaking to all Christians, clergy and laity alike. For all who were “baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” as St. Paul stated. Therefore, by virtue of our baptism, we are ordained to perform a special ministry in the life of the Church. After we baptize a child, we anoint him/her saying, “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit.”</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen:</p>
<p>I do not know of any word which is more repeated in our Orthodox circles than the word “church.” But what do we mean by Church? Is the Church that physical structure on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, or West Fourteenth Street in Cleveland, Ohio? Let me tell you, first, what the Church is not. The Church is not a country club to which you belong for recreation or social prestige. The Church is not a fire station or a police station which you call only in emergencies. The Church is not a political organization or a tribal entity or an ethnic shelter to protect us from this wave which some call “Americanism.” If the Church is not all these things, then what is the Church?</p>
<p>Let us focus for a while on how St. Paul defines the Church. In I Corinthians, 12:27-28, St. Paul says: “You are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.” St. Paul is telling us that the Church is not a physical structure. We, the assembly of the faithful, are the Church. We are “the temple of the Holy Spirit.” We are the “body of Christ.” Then St. Paul continues: “For the body does not exist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body,” (I Cor. 12:14-15).</p>
<p>St. Paul makes a perfect analogy between the Church as the body of Christ, and the physical human body. Just as every member of the physical body is important, so is the membership in the Body of Christ. “Just as the hand cannot cut off the foot without causing pain and suffering and loss of the fullness of life to the entire body, so also the Church needs each of its members.” The priest is necessary to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, but so is the person who bakes the holy bread, the one who brings the wine, the altar boy, the parish council member, the choir member, the Sunday School teacher, the Antiochian Women, the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch, SOYO, the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, and each member of the congregation. Each Christian who reaches out with love and concern to those within and without the Church does important work for the kingdom. Therefore, we cannot afford to lose one single member of the Church. For the loss of one member makes the whole body suffer.</p>
<p>Some of you might ask: “But what about those members who do not come to church or pay their dues?” I want you to realize that this phenomenon is not unique to your own parish. Such situations exist in almost every parish throughout the entire world. What should we do about these members? Should we cut them off from the body of Christ? If we do, then the whole body will suffer. Therefore, we strongly recommend that every parish should have a very active Stewardship Committee which, together with the pastor, should visit its inactive members, talk to them, missionize them and if you please, reorthodoxize them. You should never give up on any inactive member. You can never tell when God will touch their hearts and breathe in them His Holy Spirit. If you throw them out, you have lost them, lost their children and perhaps lost also, their relatives. What do you gain by throwing them out except turmoil, confusion and conflicts within the Church. St. Paul says: “The strong must bear the infirmities of the weak.”</p>
<p>My dear friends:</p>
<p>What must you do as leaders and members of your parish councils to make your parishes healthy and successful? When we began advertising this symposium, I discovered that much interest was generated in it. A young lady who is a member of one of our parish councils in Florida wrote me the following:</p>
<p>“A parish council instills a vision much like the quarterback who calls the play in a football huddle and then stays in the game to execute the plan. Not only does he call the play, but he fires up the team with his spirit and enthusiasm and his positive and confident statements. This is all part of the success of each play and each successful play moves the team closer to their goal. The best leaders are those who know how to elevate those around them to their level. The most effective leaders are those who know how to make others become leaders.”</p>
<p>Ladies and Gentlemen:</p>
<p>It is not only an honor to be chairman of the parish council or to serve on it. It is also a grave responsibility. You must be an example to the rest of the congregation in piety, faith, attending church services, work, and financial contributions to the church. Forgive me, if I tell you that you must observe the three “G’s” rule, i.e., “Give, Get or Get Off.” The worst thing you can do is to ask others to give when you, yourself, are not giving. It is not good to be a passive member of the council. You must motivate others and get them involved in the life of your parish. Furthermore, my dear friends, you must cultivate talent in the parish. Through the sacrament of Chrismation, “the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit,” all of us have received from God a variety of gifts. Consequently, we must use these gifts for the edification of the faithful. If someone in the Church has the gift of music, get him/her to join the choir. If someone is gifted in education, get him/her to be a Sunday School teacher and if someone is gifted in administration, get him/her to serve on the parish council. One of my most favorite parables in the Gospels is the Parable of the Talents, recorded in Matthew 25:14-30.</p>
<p>“For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you have delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not winnow, so I was afraid, and I went out and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. But his master answered him, “you wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth’.”</p>
<p>“All spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit who distributes them according to God’s will in the same manner as physical gifts are distributed to the human body.”</p>
<p>In I Corinthians, Chapter 12, St. Paul says, “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working but it is God who inspires them all in every one,” (I Cor. 12:4-6). You could say that the emphasis in both the Parable of the Talents and the writings of St. Paul in First Corinthians is based on the fact that God has given us gifts according to our ability. Our most important duty as good stewards is not to bury our talents in the ground like that idle and wicked servant. We must use our talents for the glory of God and the edification of his Church. And if some in your parish choose to be idle and bury their talents, I am sure that your shoulders are broader and will carry the others’ overload. Some eyes see farther and are expected to guide the near sighted. Some hearts are bigger and are meant to transfuse the Christian spirit into lives unable to pump enough for themselves.</p>
<p>There was once a Man who never sinned; and it was this innocent Man who chose to pay for the sins of the whole world “To whom much is given, of him much will be required.”</p>
<p>Finally, I will be pleased if my talk has provoked some questions in your minds. After all, we must study together and learn from each other. I am most grateful to you for being my co-workers in God’s vineyard. Let me remind you that we are not saved by faith alone, but by faith and good works. Thus, “let your light so shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven,” (Matt. 5:16).</p>
<p><em>This message of our Primate was delivered at the biennial Parish Council Symposium at the Antiochian Village. It contains information for every Parish Council in the Archdiocese.</em></p>
articlemetropolitan philipparish councilparish lifestewardshipFri, 17 Aug 2012 20:01:04 +0000dcramer28583 at http://antiochian.orgDecember 21, 2011 + The Miracle of Bethlehemhttp://antiochian.org/content/december-21-2011-miracle-bethlehem
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<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>St. Stephen the First Martyr</strong><strong> - December 27<br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/27270"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/st_stephen_protomartyr.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="270" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion of St. Stephen, Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>Thou art crowned with a royal diadem for contests endured in Christ's name, O First and holy Martyr; thou didst put to shame thy persecutors and see thy Saviour at the right hand of the Father. Ever pray to Him for our souls.</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion of&nbsp;</strong><strong>St. Stephen</strong><strong>, Tone 3<br /></strong></p>
<p>Yesterday the Master came to us in the flesh, today His servant departs in the flesh; yesterday the King was born in the flesh; today His servant is stoned to death for His sake. Hence the divine and first Martyr Stephen is made perfect.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlechristmasmetropolitan philipWed, 14 Dec 2011 16:09:47 +0000afrishman27271 at http://antiochian.orgDecember 22, 2010 + Nativity Epistle 1966http://antiochian.org/node/24514
<!--paging_filter--><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="inline inline-left"><img class="image image-_original mceItem" src="http://www.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/St_George_Bp_Th_0.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="312" /></span><em>by Metropolitan Philip</em><br /><em>from </em>The Word<em>, December 1966</em><em><br /></em></p>
<p>With great joy and gratitude for God’s unfathomable love, we greet you at this Christmas season, praying and hoping that Christ will be born in your hearts. If we look upon the birth of Christ as a mere historical event, we celebrate this holy event in vain, for Christ’s birth must serve to renew our lives and make us comprehend God’s eternal love for man whom He created in His own image and likeness.</p>
<p>Man was created out of God’s love to be a partaker of the divine, and when he—deceived by the malice of the devil—rent that fellowship with God, God never ceased seeking him and stretching forth His hand to lead him back to the meadows of salvation. For God loves us despite our sins. He searched for man in Paradise when he had fallen victim to the deceitful one and established a dialogue with man to prepare him for the most decisive event in the history of man. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that all who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John<strong> </strong>3:16) Christ’s birth, therefore, is more than an historical event for He was born to reconcile the human with the divine, to uplift man from the swamps of his lowly existence to the vastness of truth, beauty, and goodness. Christ was born to restore the purity of the image which was stained by sin.</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/nativity_1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-_original " width="182" height="250" /></span>“When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal.<strong> </strong>4:4,5) When the fullness of time was come “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John<strong> </strong>1:14). He who is God assumed our human nature with all its aspects except sin and humbled Himself. He was born in a lowly manger to give the greatest example ever given in self-sacrifice and humility. “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that by His poverty we might become rich.” (II Cor.<strong> </strong>8:9).</p>
<p>Christmas, therefore, is not a time for superficial pleasure. It is a time for reflection and deep thinking. It is a time for soul-searching and self-examination. History does not record only what we say but rather what we do. In this great event of Christ’s birth God has given us the opportunity to witness to Him in this most crucial time in the history of mankind. Let us not, therefore, forget that we belong to the Church of saints and martyrs, the Church which in the past never compromised with evil. We belong to the Church which challenged the world and changed the history of man.</p>
<p>Let us, therefore, both clergy and laity, bathe in that eternal light which shone brightly over the humble shepherds of Bethlehem. Let us rededicate ourselves for the achievements of the great tasks of Orthodoxy which are ahead of us. To do this we must begin with our own spiritual life, and our progress must go hand in hand with our spiritual progress and development. Progress in spiritual life has no limits and there is so much yet to be done for our Archdiocese in particular and Orthodoxy in general. God gave us His Son, the most precious gift He could offer us. Let us give Him ourselves in return as a spiritual sacrifice, “for a new child was born for us, God before the ages.”</p>
<p>May He who humbled Himself for our sakes and was born in a manger bless you and keep you always in His love. Our best wishes and prayers be with you for a very blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>***</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos</strong><strong> - December 26<br /></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="inline inline-left"><a href="/node/24516"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/theotokos_synaxis.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="274" height="350" /></a></span>Troparion of the Feast,&nbsp;Tone 4<br /></strong></p>
<p>Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world as the light of wisdom. For by it those who worshipped the stars were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, glory to Thee.</p>
<p><strong>Kontakion of the Synaxis,&nbsp;Tone 6<br /></strong></p>
<p>He that was born before the morning star of Father without mother is today incarnate on earth of thee without father. A star tells the glad tidings to the Magi; while Angels and Shepherds praise thy seedless childbirth, O thou who art full of grace.</p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>articlechristmasmetropolitan philipnativityWed, 15 Dec 2010 17:04:19 +0000afrishman24514 at http://antiochian.orgOn the Nativity of the Lord: Metropolitan Philip's 1994 Christmas Sermonhttp://antiochian.org/1103742731
<!--paging_filter--><blockquote><p>What is a merciful heart? It is a heart that burns with love for the whole creation—for men, for birds, for beasts, for demons and for every creature. —St. Isaac the Syrian</p>
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<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/metropolitan_philip_christmas.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="Metropolitan Philip presides at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" title="Metropolitan Philip presides at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="263" /><span class="caption" style="width: 348px;"><strong>Metropolitan Philip presides at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn</strong></span></span>Christmas music is filling the air. In every home there is a Christmas tree; some are real and some are plastic. Lights of every color are glittering in windows, shops, bars and even the discos. Some people are selling, some are buying, some are eating, some are drinking and some are starving to death.</p>
<p>I put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door because Christmas Eve is a very special and private time to me. I want to be alone in order to embrace all men and love all things. In the depths of my aloneness, the past, the present and the future become one single moment. In the depths of my aloneness I experience that boundless love which encompasses the whole creation. I am alone on Christmas Eve but not lonely, because in Christ Jesus there is no loneliness and there is no separation. The walls are destroyed and the barriers are no more. The Child of the manger has reconciled everything to Himself; henceforth, there is no race, no color, no conflict and no hatred; in Him there is "a new heaven and a new earth." </p>
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<p>Christmas Eve, to me, is a time for reflection. The year is slowly sinking into the ocean of eternity, and in my reflection there are painful questions:</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-right"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/metropolitan_philip_christmas_2.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="Metropolitan Philip preaches at the 2004 Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" title="Metropolitan Philip preaches at the 2004 Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="350" height="263" /><span class="caption" style="width: 348px;"><strong>Metropolitan Philip preaches at the 2004 Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn</strong></span></span>Did I love Him enough? Did I serve Him enough? Did I suffer enough? Did I forgive enough? How many tears did I dry? How many wounds did I bind? Was I faithful to Him who loved me beyond measure? How loving and compassionate is God, that despite my sinfulness and unworthiness, He "became flesh and dwelt amongst us." What an unfathomable condescension that He assumed our nature in order to make us par-takers of His nature. Despite His Incarnation, He will always remain incognito in this world if we don't care for each other. But do we really care? Have we seen the starving children on our television screens? Have we ever seen so much despair, so much misery and so much helplessness? These are our brothers and sisters, His brothers and sisters. How sad it is that we do not see the tragedy unless it is projected for us on the screen!</p>
<p><span class="inline inline-left"><img src="http://antiochian.org/sites/default/files/images/archdeacon_hans_christmas.teaser-large_feature.jpg" alt="Archdeacon Hans proclaims the Holy Gospel from the ambon at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" title="Archdeacon Hans proclaims the Holy Gospel from the ambon at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn" class="image image-teaser-large_feature " width="279" height="350" /><span class="caption" style="width: 277px;"><strong>Archdeacon Hans proclaims the Holy Gospel from the ambon at the Christmas Eve Liturgy at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn</strong></span></span>Tonight the Body and Blood of this tender Child will touch millions of lips throughout this troubled world. This divine touch will make us Christlike if we care and respond to His love. To be Christlike, we must be born with Him in the manger, crucified with Him on the Cross and resurrected with Him from the dead. The manger, the Cross, and the empty tomb—these are one single event which sums up the entire history of salvation.</p>
<p>It is Christmas Eve, and another year is about to dawn on us. Let Your light shine upon us so that we may see a new vision, sing a new song and dream a new dream. And if we live to celebrate another Christmas, give us courage to love You more, serve You more and worship You more "in spirit and in truth."</p>
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<p>&nbsp;<em>From </em>And He Leads Them: The Mind and Heart of Philip Saliba<em>, Joseph J. Allen, ed. (Ben Lomond California: Conciliar Press, 2004), pp. 385f.</em></p>
<div class="image-clear"></div>http://antiochian.org/1103742731#commentsarticlemetropolitan philipnativityWed, 22 Dec 2004 19:12:10 +00003077 at http://antiochian.org